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AHIMSA TIMES - OCTOBER 2008 ISSUE - www.jainsamaj.org
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the national minority welfare programmes envisaged by the Common Minimum Programme.
50. The Jain community therefore is also seriously concerned to appeal to Smt. Sonia Gandhi, the President of the INC and Chairperson of this NAC to consider the matter of the Jain minority recognition on par with other national minorities and advice the Central Government accordingly. The present Supreme Court judgment does not bar such recognition as already provided in the Constitution in Art.25.
51. In view of the forgoing observations of the Supreme Court the religious credibility, identity of not only the Jain and Sikh communities but also Constitutional status proposed to be given to the National Commission for Minorities by the insertion of Article 340 A and the statutory State Minority Commissions has been questioned unwarrantedly. This can be only undone if there is appropriate action for the reassertion of the minority rights under the Constitution and declaration of the Jain community as a minority community.
52. We are submitting this petition to you Sir with the earnest hope that justice will be done and the Government of India will take all appropriate constitutional and legal steps to have this judgment reviewed since not only the constitutional minority right of the Jain community but all the minorities and the very secular foundation is imperiled by this SC judgment in the Jain minority case.
Yours respectfully, Sameer Jatale E-Mail: sameer_jatale@rediffmail.com
DEVLOK GAMAN Jain Sthanakwasi Shraman-Sanghiya Up-Pravartak Shri Sudershan Muni ji Maharaj, disciple of Pravartak Shri Magan Lal ji maharaj had left for his heavenly abode on the 23rd August, 2008 at Ratlam. The procession, carying his body for cremation was attended by hundreds of devotees, gents, ladies and children, chanting slogans. He was 87 years old and had accepted deeksha 54 years back. He had been staying at a Jain sthanak in Ratlam for the last 30 years.
Sadhwi Shri Charan Pragya Ji, disciple of Mahasati Shri Satya Sadhna Ji, belonging to Shwetambar Sthanakwasi Shraman Sangh breathed her last on the 13th September, 2008 at Bhiwara in Rajasthan.. She had taken the vow of Santhara-Maran on the 17th June, 2008, which lasted for a period of 87 days. She was born in the year 1951 in Jain Kotecha family and had one son and two daughters. She had accepted KJain deeksha on the 15th february, 2001 at Chennai.
Mahasati Shri Kushal Kunwar Ji, disciple of Mahasati Shri Kamlesh Kunwar ji belonging to jain Swetambar Sthanakwasi Shraman sangh left for her heavenly abode at Ujjain. She had been having permanent stay (Sthirwas) at Shajapur
R. S. LODHA PASSES AWAY IN LONDON KOLKATA: Rajendra S. Lodha, 66, Chairman of Birla Corporation, died of cardiac arrest in London. He was in central London to attend a business meeting with his younger son Harsh Lodha and family. Mr Lodha's death came as a shock to his family members as well since he did not have a medical history and was actively involved in his businesses including the MP Birla group of companies till the last day. He was known in the industry circle for his alertness and business acumen and was a close associate of the Birlas including Aditya Vikram Birla till he announced that
he was the sole beneficiary of MP Birla group of companies after Priyamvada Birla's death. Since then, he has been engaged in a legal battle with the Birlas.
Mr Lodha's body was flown back to Kolkata and the last rites were performed there. Mr Lodha qualified as a chartered accountant in 1963 securing the Dandekar Gold Medal for standing first in the final CA Examination in eastern India. He served for 40 years (1964-2004) as a senior partner in his Chartered Accountancy firm Lodha & Co. He was also the first professional to become the president of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry. He became the president during the apex chamber's platinum jubilee year 2002.
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